Storage chip potato supplies appear to be a little tight. Demand is strong for open market chip potatoes. Prices are good. Most chip potato contracts for the 2023 crop have been settled with price increases in the 18-20% range. North Carolina growers have finished planting. Growers in Ohio have started planting, but cold weather has slowed progress. Planting in southern Michigan is expected to get underway next week.
Quebec potato producers reported that the province held 884,000 cwt of chip potatoes on March 1, versus 1.089 million cwt a year ago, an 18.8% decline. As we reported a week ago, Ontario held 2.564 million cwt of chip potatoes on March 1. The combined chip potato inventory for the two provinces totaled 3.448 million cwt. That is 583,000 cwt less than year-earlier holdings, a 14.5% decline.
U.S. packers shipped 1.696 million cwt of table potatoes during the week ending March 18. That is up from 1.664 million cwt shipped a year earlier. Michigan’s reported shipments totaled 78,800 cwt of potatoes during the week ending March 18. That is up from 34,900 cwt during the same week in 2022. Last week’s Michigan shipments were 74.3% russets, 19.1% yellow potatoes, and 6.6% round white potatoes.
USDA reports that Michigan packers are selling size A russets in 10-pound bags for mostly $16-$17 per 50-pound bale, unchanged from a week ago. They are selling size A russets in 5-pound bags for mostly $17-$18 per 50-pound bale, up from $16-$17 per 50-pound bale last week. Wisconsin packers are selling size A russet potatoes in 10-pound bags for mostly $14.50-$16 per 50-pound bale, up from $14.50-$15.50 per 50-pound bale a week ago. They are selling russet 40-70 count cartons for mostly $27-$32 per 50-pound box, up from $26-$32 per 50-pound box last week. The weighted average shipping point price for Idaho Russet Norkotahs is $35.82 per cwt. That is up from $35.49 per cwt a week ago.
Red River Valley packers are selling size A yellow potatoes in 2,000-pound tote bags for mostly $26-$28 per cwt, unchanged from a week ago. They are selling yellow creamers in 50-pound sacks for mostly $30, also unchanged. Florida packers are selling 50-pound cartons of size A yellow new-crop potatoes for $25.95-$30.25 per box, unchanged from last week. They are selling yellow creamers in 50# cartons for $45.25-$50.95 per box, also unchanged.
Florida packers are selling 50-pound cartons of size A round white new-crop potatoes for $38.25-$40.95 per box, unchanged from last week. They are selling round white creamers in 50-pound cartons for $45.95-$50.95 per box, also unchanged.
– Report by North American Potato Market News